Safe Play – Recommendations for Responsible Conduct in Online Games

Engaging with online games is fascinating. Our players experience exciting adventures and meet thousands of fellow players. On this page we would like to give our players, their friends and their families recommendations for responsible conduct in online games. We especially advise parents of child and teenage players to take note of these recommendations. Thus our games can remain an entertaining past time, providing fun for all ages.

Our recommendations for players and partners

We recommend that you check the individual age ratings for our games, to ensure that they correspond to your playing child’s age. You can find our age ratings here. You can find more information about the age categories in bullet points 2 and 3.

If you have young children, we advise you install and set up recognised youth protection software on all the computers your child has access to at home. Youth protection software effectively blocks access to internet content that does not correspond to the appropriate age.

We recommend you keep a cautious eye on the times and the duration your children spend playing computer games.

We recommend monitoring your children while they are playing, talking to them about proper game conduct and playing with them to get an impression of the content and mechanism of the game.

We also recommend familiarising yourself with the contact and communication options (e.g. forum, chat, email) that are available to your children.

Just like in real life, you may encounter impolite and dishonest people in virtual worlds. Be careful when dealing with fellow players, especially when trading and swapping resources, items and other valuables in connection with online games and make your children aware of this too.

Please do not give your access data to our games and the corresponding payment systems and forums onto third parties. Even seemingly friendly players can misuse it. Inform your children of the possible dangers. Employees from our company will never ask you for your passwords.

We recommend setting up your child’s game account with your child and managing it together.

Control the access your child has to credit card numbers, bank information and other critical data and educate responsible use of payment systems such as pay-per-call (via a telephone bill) and pay-per-sms (via a mobile phone). We recommend giving your child more easily controllable payment methods such as prepaid cards with limited credit. Inform your child of the dangers of phishing.

Inform your child about handling personal data properly. You can find more hints and tips here.

Get informed about possible ways to ban mobile telephones and landlines for premium services. That way you can prevent children or youngsters from calling numbers that are subject to a charge (e.g. 0900 numbers) from landlines or mobile telephones.

Age classification according to PEGI

The Pan-European Game Information (PEGI) age rating system was established to help European parents make informed decisions on buying computer games. It was launched in spring 2003 and replaced a number of national age rating systems with a single system now used throughout most of Europe.

Age classifications according to ESRB

The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) is a non-profit, self-regulatory body established in 1994 by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA). ESRB assigns computer and video game content ratings for the US market, enforces industry-adopted advertising guidelines and helps ensure responsible online privacy practices for the interactive entertainment software industry.

To empower consumers, especially parents, with the ability to make informed decisions about the computer and video games they choose for their families through the assignment of age and content ratings, and to hold the computer and video game industry accountable for responsible marketing practices.

Frequently asked questions – FAQ

In Massively Multiplayer Online games (MMO games) lots of players experience adventures at the same time in virtual worlds that run on game servers on the internet. Access to this game world, which extends over a number of diverse game areas, is open 24 hours a day. In online role-playing games, players customise their game figure, their so-called character or Avatar, according to their own preferences. Their game figure takes on a particular role in the game world which is mainly based on a chosen character class (mage, knight, rogue, healer, hunter etc.). Players take on various tasks in MMO games, either alone or with a group. They can, for example, mine resources, produce and enhance items, trade amongst each other, fight against computer-controlled opponents or compete against real players. An online game allows and encourages interaction and communication between players and encourages playing together in a casual or organised gaming community (a so-called guild). As playing progresses, players increase their game level (the so-called character level) and gain valuable items with which they can equip and improve their character, buildings, equipment, clothing, mounts or virtual companions. This will make their virtual characters in the game stronger and more powerful, so that players can access and explore new game territories with them that contain new challenges.

What does free-to-play mean?

Access and downloading (where necessary) of the games that are offered under the keyword of free-to-play are free. With most of the games of this type, there is an opportunity to purchase so-called premium currency which can be swapped for virtual items in a corresponding shop system. Players can choose to purchase game extras that are subject to a fee, which make gameplay easier or customise it. Sometimes free-to-play games are partially financed through various forms of advertising.

How does an item shop work?

The game software and access to most of our games is free. Players have the option to voluntarily purchase functions that make the game easier or to buy additional items for a virtual currency (e.g. Diamonds) in a shop system integrated into the game or on the websites of the game (the so-called item shop). These can be bonuses for collecting experience points, equipment for the game character or their virtual home, an enhanced inventory, mounts, companions, teleportation stones or time benefits. These items make progressing in the game easier or customise the gaming experience. However, they are not required in the game for progression. To be able to buy these items and functions, players have to buy a package of virtual currency via the payment system of the corresponding game. This can be swapped for functional items in the item shop. The item shop displays a description of the function, the duration of validity and the range of uses of each item in the game.

How do prepaid cards work?

Just like prepaid cards for mobile telephones, players can buy prepaid cards (e.g. Paysafecard) worth various amounts of money for use in online games. Players can use these prepaid cards with the code printed on them to buy currency packages in the item shop.

Who can I contact if I am harassed in the game?

We have made technical adjustments to ensure that the use of swear words and insults are widely blocked in our games. We severely punish inadequate behaviour and misconduct in the communication channels. Be very careful when other players ask you or your playing child for personal information or account details. In the event of conflict occurring with other players, please contact our customer support:

Overview of frequently used payment systems

Players can take advantage of functions that are subject to a fee, if they are logged in via the game software or via the game’s website. An order can only be made when the player is logged in. Registration for a Gameforge game merely requires the indication of an email address and a password. Further data does not necessarily have to be given. The player can reach a range of payment systems via the corresponding shop system, from which they can choose at will.

Payment via text message

After selecting the required order quantity for a currency package or a service in the shop system that clearly states the corresponding price, the player is asked to send the code listed in the order form to the number in the order form. At every point during the order process, they can see which costs will be incurred through the order. Afterwards they will receive a text message with an order code and a display of how much the order will cost, sent to the entered mobile phone number. The player enters the received order code in the shop system’s order form. The order is completed when the entered data is confirmed. Costs will only occur when the confirmation has arrived, thus an accidental order is avoided. The player is constantly informed of the costs during every step of the order process.

Payment via telephone call

Players select a currency package or a service in the shop system that clearly displays the price. After selecting the desired order amount, the player is asked to call the given telephone number on the order form. The player is then informed again about the cost of the call. After finishing the call, the player receives an order confirmation. When this type of payment process is used, the payment system provider is the contractual partner of the transaction, not the Gameforge Group. This is indicated during the order process. The Gameforge Group is merely the service provider in this case.

Payment via PayPal

After selecting the required order quantity for a currency package or a service in the shop system that clearly states the corresponding price, the player is forwarded to the PayPal (PayPal (Europe) r.l. etCie, S.C.A., Luxemburg) page. They then log in via an existing PayPal account or create a new account to complete the order via Paypal. After the payment the player will be forwarded back to the Gameforge Group page, where he will receive an order confirmation on his screen. When this type of payment process is used, the payment system provider is the contractual partner of the transaction, not the Gameforge Group. The Gameforge Group is merely the service provider in this case.

Payment via prepaid card e.g. Paysafecard

After selecting the required order quantity for a currency package or a service in the shop system that clearly states the corresponding price, the player is forwarded to the internet page of Paysafecard (Prepaid Services Company Ltd., London). On the internet page of Paysafecard, they are asked to enter the given PIN on the order form. The player confirms their data by accepting the general terms and conditions of Paysafecard and by clicking on the ‘Pay’ button. The player receives an order confirmation on his screen. When this type of payment process is used, the payment system provider is the contractual partner of the transaction, not the Gameforge Group. The Gameforge Group is merely the service provider in this case.

Payment via credit card

After selecting the required order quantity for a currency package or a service in the shop system that clearly states the corresponding price, the player is asked to enter their credit card details on the order form. After filling everything out, they confirm their details by clicking on the ‘Confirm‘ button, thereby completing the order process. The player will also receive a confirmation of their order on the screen and in certain cases via email.

Payment via direct debit

After selecting the required order quantity for a currency package or a service in the shop system that clearly states the corresponding price, the player is asked to enter their account details on the order form. After filling everything out, they confirm their details by clicking on the ‘Confirm’ button and completing the order process. The player receives an order confirmation on his screen.

Payment via ClickandBuy

After selecting the required order quantity for a currency package or a service in the shop system that clearly states the corresponding price, the player is forwarded to the ClickandBuy (ClickandBuy International Limited, London, United Kingdom) page. They then log in via an existing ClickandBuy account or create a new account to complete the order via ClickandBuy. After the payment the player will be forwarded back to the Gameforge Group page, where he will receive an order confirmation on his screen. When this type of payment process is used, the payment system provider is the contractual partner of the transaction, not the Gameforge Group. The Gameforge Group is merely the service provider in this case.